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Impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on early intervention utilization and need for referral after NICU discharge in VLBW infants

Journal of Perinatology volume 44, pages 40–45 (2024)Cite this article

Subjects

Abstract

Objective

To examine the impact of COVID-19 pandemic on early intervention (EI) services in VLBW infants.

Study design

208 VLBW infants seen in NICU follow-up (FU) pre-COVID-19 were compared to 132 infants seen during COVID-19 at 4, 8 and 20 months corrected age (CA) in terms of enrollment in Child and Family Connections (CFC; intake agency for EI), EI therapies, need for CFC referral and Bayley scores.

Results

Infants seen during COVID-19 at 4, 8 and 20 months CA were 3.4 (OR, 95% CI 1.64, 6.98), 4.0 (1.77, 8.95) and 4.8 (2.10, 11.08) times more likely to need CFC referral at FU based on severity of developmental delay. Infants followed during COVID-19 had significantly lower mean Bayley cognitive and language scores at 20 months CA.

Conclusions

VLBW infants seen during COVID-19 had significantly higher odds of needing EI and significantly lower cognitive and language scores at 20 months CA.

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Fig. 1: Therapy modality during COVID-19.

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Data availability

The datasets generated during and/or analysed during the current study are available from the corresponding author on reasonable request.

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Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Pediatrics, Rush University Children’s Hospital, Rush University Medical Center, Chicago, IL, USA

    Jieun David, Caroline G. Wambach, Megan Kraemer, Michelle M. Greene, Esther Lee & Kousiki Patra

  2. Department of Health Systems Management, Rush University Medical Center, Chicago, IL, USA

    Tricia J. Johnson

Authors
  1. Jieun David
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  2. Caroline G. Wambach
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  3. Megan Kraemer
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  4. Tricia J. Johnson
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  5. Michelle M. Greene
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  6. Esther Lee
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  7. Kousiki Patra
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Contributions

JD compiled the data, drafted and revised the manuscript; CW compiled the data, revised the manuscript; MK compiled the data, revised the manuscript; TJ designed the study, analyzed the data, drafted and revised the manuscript; MG designed the study, revised the manuscript; EL revised the manuscript; KP designed the study, drafted and revised the manuscript.

Corresponding author

Correspondence to Jieun David.

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The authors declare no competing interests.

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David, J., Wambach, C.G., Kraemer, M. et al. Impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on early intervention utilization and need for referral after NICU discharge in VLBW infants. J Perinatol 44, 40–45 (2024). https://doi.org/10.1038/s41372-023-01711-7

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